Capping mechanism



Aug. 7, 1928.

c. N. B ERGMANN CAPPING MECHANISM I5 Sheets-Sheet Original Fi 1ed 17, 1923 k mm mm 3 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Aug. 7, 1928 1,680,199

c. N. BERGMANN' CAPPING MECHANISM Original Fild 1'7, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 v llllAA/AAA AT'TpRNEY: i

Aug. 7, 1928. 1,680,199

C- N. BERGMANN CAPPING MECHANISM Original Filed 17, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR AT'roREY Patented Aug. 7, i928.

stil -tilt? TATE CHRISTIAN N. BERGMANN, OE PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO BERG- IVIANN PACKAGING MACHINE COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A

CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

CAPPING MECHANISM.

Original application filed January 17, 1923, Serial No. 613,235. Divided and this application filed January 19, 1923.

tinuous series of carrying trays, arranged to hold the receptacles and successively present them in pro-per position to be filled and sealed,-a SUPPOltlDg trackway therefor, and means for advancing the tray and receptacles successively through the machine for filling and closing. The capping mechanism for applying a sealing cover is controlled and operated by the tray so as to ensure proper positioning of the parts throughout the operation.

The machine is so constructed and ar ranged that one tray after another, tilled with'empty receptacles, will pass through it, and the receptacles will be filled and clofied, the tray then passing outwardly at the other end, where itmay be removed contents, ready for use.

The improvement herein involved relates particularly to the means for applying the covers to the receptacles, and the subject matter of this application is a di ii031 of my former application filed January 17, 1923, Serial No. (313,235.

In the drawings, illustrating the invention as used in connection with one form of filling machine,

Fig. 1 is a view of the machine in elevation, partly broken away;'

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view in side elevation of the actuating mechanism for shifting the sealing disks;

Fig. 3 is a similar detail view showing the actuating mechani m advanced;

side

Fig. i is an enlargedcross sectional view on the line IVIV of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a partial plan view, showing the receptacle tray passing underneath the cover applying mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal ver ical section on the line VLF-VI of Fig. a, showing the disk with its tilled Serial no. 613,595.

magazine and pneumatic disk-placing mechamsm; I

Fig. 7 is a similar View, showing the sealing disk in its shifted position and in register with the pneumatic plunger;

Fig. 8 is a similar view, showing the operation of placing the diskcover in the receptacle; and

Fig. 9 is a partial similar view, enlarged. While the present improvement relates particularly to the cover applying mechanism, I will describe the whole of the operative mechanism so that the entire construction and operation will be understood.

The machine as a whole is generally rectangular in form, having a horizontal supporting frame 2 of any suitable material, as structural shapes, supported by the legs 3-3. Extending upwardly from such main frame at each side of its length are suitable trackways at of angle iron or other appropriate shape, for sliding support of the receptacle carrying frame or tray 5. The latter is adapted to be advanced intermittently along such trackway by the reciprocating bar 6 and engagement thereby of the pawl 7 secured on the under side of the receptacle frame 5. Said pawl may be made of spring steel, and is adapted to be successively engaged by one of a series of shoulders 8 of bar 6, at the proper time to push the cup receptacle carrier or tray forward one space. The shoulders 8 are equally spaced so as to ensure accuracy in the periodical intermittent movement of the carrier, or a series of them, by the regularity of motion in'ipartcd by bar 6. i

The carrier '5 is provided with suitable receiving cavities extending crosswise of its width, in rows, spaced apart longitudinally of the carrier a distance equaling each forward intermittent movement, whereby to bring each successive row of receptacles underneath the unit measuring mechanism.

The latter, which .is of the same gene al construction and operation as that shown and described in my prior application above referred to, comprises a. rotary barrel mounted within a cylindrical casing; 10, below the delivery portion of a main hopper 12.

For the purpose of imparting alternating forward and back half rotation to the barrel, it is provided with a pinion 17 secured to one end of supporting shaft 18, carried by bearings at each end or the hopper meci anism, which pinion is in constant mesh en gagement with the teeth of reciprocating rack 20. Said rack is slidably mounted in a suitable vertically arranged housing 21 and is pivotally connected at 22 with pitman 23 having operative connection with the constantly rotating crank 24. litman 23 is provided with a slotted link terminal 25 fordesired lost motion connect-ion with the crank pin 26 of crank 24, whereby to provide for a temporary period of inertia of the measuring barrel during the filling and emptying of the cavities thereof. Crank 2 lissecured to the end of constantly rotating shaft 27 which is geared by bevel gearing 28 with shaft 29 extending upwardly therefrom. haf- 29 in turn is geared by bevel gearing 30 with shaft 31 extending longitudinally of the machine, and geared by bevels 32 with the main power shaft 33 having a driving pulley 34:, for connection with any source of power, as will be readily understood. I

The movement of said shaft is comparatively slow and the operation of crank 2a is sufficiently gradual to provide for a com- 7 paratively long period of rest for the measurmg barrel and comparatively quick rota-.

tion of it to reversed position, as clearly described in the prior application.

The contents of the main reservoir are delivered in measured unitform from the lower portion of the barrel, while each cavity is at the same time receiving'the next charge from its upper portion, after the previously measured units have been disch 'r 'ed into the transverse series of receptacles 35.

For the purpose of providing a sealing closure for the outlet apertures at the under side of casing 10, when the machine is not in operation, a closing valve or gate 36 extends across and between the supporting arms 37 which are pivoted at 38 to each end of the main hopper. Depending downwardly from one or both of such arms is an abutment or lug 39 extending into the path of the receptacle carrier 5, and adapted to be engaged thereby as the carrier is progressed underneath the filling'mechanism, thereby forcing the gate valve into open position just at the time the receptacles are directly. under the measuring cavities and in' a position to receive the material as it is being discharged.

Beyond the filling mechanism is the covering or capping device for the purpose of placing a series of closing disks ofpasteboard or the like into each successive row of filled receptacles as they are SUCCGSSlYCly advanced along, and during their temporary stoppage. For such purpose, I provide a series of vertically arranged tubular magazines 40 mounted above the carrier space, across the machine. Each ofsuch magazines,

which may be of thin tubular metal, is preferably vertically slotted, as at 41, providing clearance for access to the disks, and moun ed at its bottom in a supporting base42 provided with an interior-1y flush delivery opening 43 preferably slightly tapered, as indicated in Figs. 6, 7, 8, and 9.

Between said magazines and the filling mechanism, is a corresponding series of disk placing plungers ll, the purpose of which is to receive and temporarily hold a series of sealing disks elf) upwardly against their bottoms by pneumatic suction, and to then place them in tight frictional engagement within the interior of each receptacle or cup 35, tightly sealing the contents. The disk plungers llare provided with upwardly extending hollow guide stems 46, slidably mounted in guide extensions l7 and all connected at their tops with a common cross head orbar {l8 by which they are reciprocated vertically. Each hollow stem -&6 is provided with a spiral lifting spring 4:9 bearing up underneath a securing nut50, by which the several stems are fixedly held in operative relation to the cross bar 48. The cross bar 48 and the several stems are retracted by the springs 49to their highest position after being lowered. The cross bar 4-8 is maintained for vertical movement by guide pins 48 extending upwardly from the frame, having terminal limiting nuts or abutments a8.

l? or the purpose of creating suction and sutlicient partial vacuum to positively hold the several disks as in proper position underneath the several plungers l i, the top of each hollow stem 46 is connected by a tubular flexible hose section 5l with a common suction pipe .52 communicating with apump, vacuum tank, or other suction or vacuum creating mechanism. The several plungers are intermlttently reciprocated, by their common cross bar d8, through connecting rods 53 and continuously moving cranks 54: at each side of the machine. Connecting rods 53 are preferably provided with ad justable turn buckles 55 at their middle portion, providing for adjustment of the stroke of the plungers. lhe upper'portion of each connecting rod is slotted, as at'56, for the adapted to engage and push out the lower most of each of said series of disks, and to Sit) ill?) tively limited by abutment (35 engaging against the base A shaft to engages depending lugs 67 of the slide and extends beyond them at each side and is provided with the pivoting pull blocks 68, which impart movement to the slide.

Arm 61 is slidablymounted in each block 68 by its reducedtern'iinal 69 extendingbciii yond the arresting shoulder 70, and is normally held retracted by the spring 71 at tached by its opposite ends to the block and arm respectively. When the terminal finger 59 engages hooked terminal 60, as arm'SS revolves at each sid-e,- the springs 71 are suflicient-ly strong to draw the blocks (38 forward at each'side until abutment 65 makes contact. Arms 61 then move slightly beyond the blocks by their slide extensions 69 until fingers 59 have become diseng god from hooks 60, when they will be retract-ed by the springs} (See Fig; As crank arm 58 revolves, its terminal 59 will be disengaged from hoolrGOby the cam action of the roar upper rounded portion of the arm bearing underneath the lower edge of arms 61 behind the hook.

Reverse movement of slide 62 is effected by countcrw-eighted arms 72 of rock shaft '4 having crank arms 7st connected by links 7 with shaft 66. lVhen fingers59 wipe beyond hooks 60, releasing pulling force on blocks 68, the counterweighted arms 72 which have been raised by the forward movement of the slide, will retract it by gravity. Arms Gland their hooked terminals are normally held up out of the way of rotating arms 58 in an inoperative position until the receptacle carrier has advancedto bring the first row of filled receptacles 35 undcn neath the transverse row of plungers ii.

For the purpose of thus'holding arms 61 raised until such time, so as to render the slide (32 operative only after the row of re ceptaclos has reached such point, I provide at each side the levers 7 These are pivoted to each side of the frame at 77, and have a pin or abutment 78 extending out under neath the lifting rod or arm 79 of each block 68. The other end of the lever 7 6 acts as a counterweight to normally hold the opposite end of the lever carrying abutment 78 raised, as in Fig. 2, and is provided with a bearing roller 80. The latter is pivoted at 81 at the inner side of each lever 7 6, in range of the receptacle carrier or tray 5, so as to be lifted thereby. As the carrier advances and rides underneath rollers 80, lifting them by its side edges, the upper end of each lever 76 is correspondingly lowered, allowing arms 79 and blocks 68to tilt downwardly suiiiciently far to bring the hooked erminal of the arm 61 in range of the finger terminal 59 of lever 58, as in Fig. Such operative position of these parts will continue as ionas the carrier 5 is in lifting engagen'ient n rollers 80, during which time the carrier successively advanced for placement of the closing disks in the successive rows of filled receptacles.

Thereafter, the carrier or tray will pass outwardly toward'the other end where it 7 may be removed, rollers dropping down behind the carrier and lifting arms 79 and til to inoperative position until the next carrier is brought into range of the cover applying mechanism. 7

' 'lhe intermittent actuation of the carriers by shouldered bar 6 is effected through the intermittent reciprocation of such bar by the pitman 82 pivoted to the bar or a. lug extension thereof at 83 and similarly connect-ed at 84 with crank 85 of shaft- 33.

Cranks 54 and 58 are secured to the outer ends of shaft 86 which is geared by hotels 8'7-88 with shaft 3 the upeed of said shafts and of their connected parts being timed to correspond to the co-acting lilling mechanism actuated through bcvcls 30 from the same shaft for driving shaft 2? and its con-- nected parts, as will be readily understood. The speed of the several parts of the machine will, of course, be suitably regulated to the work in view, dependent son'iewhat upon the material being charged into the re ceptacles and other conditions present.

The several parts as arranged may be -aried and the dimensions and capacity of the machine may, of course, be changed to it the desired capacity and output, and the invention is not, of course, to be limited to the exact construction, arrangement or number of such parts, butmay be variously changed or modified by the skilled mechanic, as will be readily understood.

The construction of the machine and its manner of operation will be clear from the foregoing description. A carrier with its receptacles being placed upon the supportingtracks 4, the carrier will be progressed along underneath the filling mechanisn i, each row of receptacles being filled in the manner described, and then covered by the closing disks at the subsequent position, the carrier continuing by its intermittent move ments through the machine and beyond the cover applying mechanism, to the other end, where it may be removed.

It will be seen also that a series of closely adjacent carriers may be passed through the machine one after the other, so that no time or space is wasted in securing the maximum capacity and output. The machine is well adapted to the filling of receptacles, cups, or

cartons of the kind disclosed, for the purpose of vending or storing mobile material, as 1ce cream, etc., the receptacles themselves ilun er a hooked arm havin lost motion connection with the slide, means suspending said arm in inoperative position, and means for engaging said arm to actuate the slide when the arm is lowered. V

2. In combination with a cover magazine and a laterally arranged plunger, a reciprocable shouldered bottom slide adapted to shift a bottom cover from the base of the magazine to registering position with the plunger, a hooked arm having lost motion connection with the slide, means suspending said arm in inoperative position, and a crank .arm having operative connection with the plunger for reciprocationthereof and provided with a terminal adapted to engage the hooked arm.

3. In combination with the reciprocable slide of a cover magazine and a cooperating plunger, a blockpivotally connected with the plunger provided. with a slidable shouldered arm having a hooked terminal and a retracting spring, means for raising and lowering said arm to inoperative and operative positions respectively, and a crank arm having operative connection with the plunger for reciprocation thereof and provided with a terminal adapted to engage the hooked arm. 7 7

4;- In combination with the reciprocable slide of a cover magazine and a cooperating plunger, a block pivotally connected with the plunger provided with a sli-dable shouldered arm having a hooked terminal and a retracting spring, a lifting rod extending from said block, a counter-weighted lever engaging said rod and provided with a roller for engagement with a carrier frame, and 'a crank arm having operative connection with the plunger for reciprocation thereof andprovided with a terminal adapted to engage the hooked arm.-

5. In combination with the reciprocable' slide of a cover magazine andacooperating plunger, a block pivotally connected with the plunger provided with a slidable shouldered arm having a hooked terminal and a retracting spring, a lifting rod extending from said block, a counter-weighted lever engaging said rod and provided with a roller for engagement with a carrier frame, a counter-weighted lever operatively connected with the slide for retracting it, and a crank arm having operative connection with the plunger for reciprocation thereofand' provided. with a terminal adapted to'engage the hooked arm. V

6. In combination with a transverse series of plungers each having a hollow stem and a lifting spring, a cross arm fixedly engaging said stems, operating cranks provided with connecting rods having slotted connection with the cross arm at each end for actuation thereof on downward motion .and alternating rest period lost motion on upward movement, a suction header having flexible hose connection with theupper endof each hollow stem, a movable carrier adapted to place open top receptacles underneath the plungers, means for locating cover disks between thereceptacles and theplungers,and means adapted to be engaged by the carrier for regulating the operation of the disk locating means.

.7. In a package capping maehinefthe combination of a supporting frame having a longitudinal trackway, an intermittently movable package carrier thereon having pockets for. open top packages, a superimposed cover magazine, means for selecting a cover therefrom, means for placing it within one of said packages, means for actuating the carrier and said cover placing means, and means adapted to be engaged by the carrier for regulating the operation of the cover selecting means.

- In testimony whereof I hereunto ,afiix my signature.

CHRISTIAN N. BERGMANN.

lOO 

